Push-button switch



W. W. DEAN PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Nov. 24, 1925.

Filed Dec, 8, 1923 INVENTOR W I M4156 ATTORNEY v n a, W M e a Patented A on. .2 3, i925.

w rren s'raras VII hen, EKECUTRJIIZ. 0E BIRBT' PATENT OFFFCE.

M w. Dean, nncnesnn, Lara on tou ism, iuessaoirosnrrmrr MA-R'Y M, rarer-risen, assrenon' rnonoenarn rvmnuracrnnrnc company, or ELYEIA, OHIO,

To rim GENERAL A" CORPORATION or PUSH-BUTTON SNITCH.

Application filed December 8, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that lV-ILLIAM W. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, now deceased,- and who resided at Lowell, Massachusetts, did prior to his death invent certain new and useful lmprm'erneuts in Push-Button Switches. oi which the following a Full. clear, and exact disclosure ot one term.

This invention relates to push button switches for controlling electric circuits, and especially for devices of this kind which are employed for operating the warning signal.

apparatus for automobiles, motor cycles, and other similar vehicles.

An object of my invention is to provide push button switch having an axially movable contact member which is readily operated by pressure against a button which presents a large operating area and which will be operated, without distracting the attention of an operator, when slight pressure is applied thereto at any point within the circumference of the outer surface thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a switch of the character described in which a contact member can be easily moved in a single axial direction to form a circuit when pressure is applied againsta push button.

Another object of my invention is to provide a switch with a bearing which permits a Contact member to be easily moved in a single axial direction to form an electric circuit, when pressure is applied against any point on the surtl iace of a push button tach-ed to'the contact member.

Other objects and the invention itself will be better understood from the accompanying description oi an en'ibo-diment oi the invention.

In the drawings illustrating my inven. tion Fig. 1 is a cross section. of an embodiment of my invention taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the embodiment oi. my invention illustrated in Fig. l; and

Fig. l is a sectional view of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in'Fig. 1 tul zen on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Serial No. 679,801.

suiating material, having an end wall 11 and an open end 12. A hollow elongated annular bearing housing 13' is formed integrally with the frame member, projecting centrally from the end wall 11 toward the open end 12, of the base member.

A hollow cylindrical bushing or bearing lat is carried within, and is of substantiallythe same length as the housing 13. A cylindrical stein loextends through and is mounted within the bearing 13,-being tree therein to rotate, and to reciprocate in asingle axial direction. The end of the stem is provided with an opening which is threaded and receives the threaded shank of a contact stud 16, the head of the stud being large enough to prevent the stem from being removed through the end wall of the frame. The stem and the stud are referred to as acon tact member.

A mushroom shaped push button, formed of conventional insulatingmaterial, is-preit erably molded upon the projecting end of the stem. The'push'button is of a room shape, of such diameter that it will telescope over the adjacent end of the frame. The button includes a central portion and an outer skirt portion 20, the outer sur faces ofwhich merge into a continuous convex curve, the surface of the skirt portion extending in a convex curve outwardly from the central portion. Suchan exterior'but ton surface provides a maximum area againstwhich an operator can press to successfully and easily move the stein aizially in, its bearing as sufficientpurchase can be obtained against the outer button surface at any point with an area bounded byv the extreme outer circumference of the skirt.

When the contact member is -"i n niai:iinuin extended position, tlie'head oftliefstud lti engages the end oi' the bearingliand the push button is spaced from the'en d wall 11 of the frame member, beingfn orrnally maintained in such relations by. a coil spring 2l' extending: around the portion of the stem which projects from the end wall of the frame member, throughthe bearing housing and the bearing 14. The opposite muslr ends of the spring bear against the inner surface of the central portion of the push button and the outer surface of the end wall of the frame member. The annular flange of the push button is of sufficient size to enclose the adjacent end of the frame member, remaining in such relation at all times when assembled.

Oppositely disposed hollow terminal posts 22 are molded within the wall of the base member and extend longitudinally therein, the ends of such posts being provided with contact wings 23 which extend arcuately within the end wall of the base member. Recesses 24 are formed in the end of the wall of the base member to permit wires to extend into the hollow terminals where. they are clamped by screws 25, which project transversely through the wall of the frame member and enter the hollow terminals. Oppositely disposed recesses 26 are provided intermediate the terminal posts 23, and one end of a spring contact finger 27 is secured against one of the arcuate wings of the terminal posts, at the base of each recess, by threaded studs 2% which are screwed through the end wall of the frame member. The contact fingers 2i extend longitudinally beside the bearing housing 13 and project beyond the end thereof, having bent ends extending toward each other. i

The terminals are connected by wires 35 to a source of electric supply, and are in circuit with an automobile horn, or the like, and the arcuate wings or arms 23 are connected to the contact fingers 27. hen the push button is pressed against by an operator, the stem 15 will be moved in a single axial direction through the bearing housing and bearing, until the stud 16 engages the bent ends 29 of the fingers 27, completing the circuit. \Vhen the pressure against the button is released the spring 2]. automatically moves the member 15 out of engagement with the contact: member 2?, to the position shown in Fig. 1v thereby disconnecting the circuit.

The long bearing for the stem provides quick responsive and easy operation in establishing a circuit, when the button is pressed against at any point on its operative surface. The shape of the outer surface of the button provides a large area within which the operator can press to operate the contact member.

employing a relatively long and relatively tight bearing, 1 insure the operation, without danger of binding, of the circuit controller no matter where the depressing power is applied to the upper portion of the push button member. It is also possible and in some structures highly desirable-to so make the parts that there is scant clearance between the base member and the overhanging flange 20, thereby virtually closing the structure to dirt, moisture, etc. Indeed, it is possible to make this clearance much less than shown in the embodiment of my invention here illustrated without interfering with the operation of the parts or inviting or endangering binding of the button member against the base member.

Various changes can be made in the details of construction described without de parting from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

hat is claimed is 1. In a push button electric circuit con troller, the combination of a base member, electric circuit controlling contacts mounted on said base member and normally disas sociated electrically from each other, a push button member adapted to be reciprocated with respect to said base member, extending over the top of said base member and provided with an annular peripheral flange overhanging the upper part of the sides of the base member and adapted to telescope with said base member when the push button member is reciprocated, a pair of relatively long bearings, one on the base member and one on the push button member, upon which said push button member reciprocates with respect to the base member, said bearings fitting tightly, preventing the tilting and insuring the reciprocation of the push button member with respect to the base member, means whereby the contacts are associated electrically when the push button member is reciprocated and means for returning said push button member to normal when released.

2. In a push button electric circuit controller, the combination of a cylindrical base member having a hollow portion therein, electric circuit contacts mounted in the hollow portion of the base member and normally disassociated from each other electrically, a mushroom shaped push button member mounted on said base member and adapted to be reciprocated with respect thereto, said push button member extending over the top of said base member and being provided with an annular peripheral flange overhanging the top part of the sides of the base member, a relatively long hollow bushing mounted in the base member with its bore in a vertical position, a downwardly extending pin rigidly connected to the push button member and extending through and tightly fitting in the bore of said bushing to permit and insure the reciprocation of said push button member with respect to the base member but to prevent the tilting of said push button member with respect to the base member when the push button member is reciprocated, said flange telescoping with the upper portion of said base member when the button is reciprocated, and means whereby the push button member causes the electrical association of said contacts when said push button member is reciprocated and spring means tor returning said push button memher to normal when the sameis released.

3. in a push button circuit controller, the combination of a base member, electric cir cuitcontrolling contacts mounted on said base member, a push button member adapted to be reciprocated with respectto said base member, provided with an annular peripheral flange overhanging the base member with scant clearance between the flange and the base member, said push button mei'nber telescoping the said base member when the push button member is reciin'ocated, a pair of relatively long bearings, one on the base member and one on the push button member, upon which said push button member reciprocates with respect to the base member, said bearings fitting tightly, preventing the tilting and insuring the reciprocation oi the push button member with respect to the base member, means controlling said contacts governed by the push button member when it is reciprocated and means for returning said push button member to normal when released.

4. In a push button electric circuit controller, the combination ot a cylindrical base member having a. hollow portion therein, electric circuitcontacts mounted in th hollow portion of the base member and adapted to control an electric circuit, a mushroom shaped push button member mounted on said base member and adapted to be reciprocated with respect thereto, said push button member extending over the top of said base member and being provided with an annular peripheral flange overhanging the top part of the sides of the base member and having scaiitclearance therewith, a relatively lon a: hollow bushing mounted in the base member with its bore in a vertical position, a downwardly extending pin rigidly connected to the push button member and extending through and tightly fitting in the bore of said bushing to permit and insure the reciprocation oi said. push button member with respect to the base member, but to prevent the tilting of said push button member with respect to said base member when the push button member is reciprocated, said flange telescoping with the upper portion of said base member when the button is reciprocated, and means whereby the push button member governs the said electrical contacts when said push button member is reciprocated and spring means for returning said push button member to normal when the same is released.

5. In a push button electric circuit controller, the combination of a base member, electric circuit controlling contacts mounted on said base member, a push button member adapted to be reciprocated with respect to said base member to control said contacts and extending over the top of said base member, a pair of bearings substantially as long as the radius of the push button member perpendicular to the long axis of the bearings, one of said bearings being mounted upon said base member and the other hearing being mounted upon said push button member, said bearings fitting tightly one in the other, preventing the tilting and insuring the reciprocation of the push button member with respect to the base member, an annular downwardly extending peripheral flange on the push button member adapted to telescope with the top of the base member when the push button member is reciprocated.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 27 day of November, 1923.

MARY l9. DEAN, Ezrcc-ul riw of lViZZim/t TV. Dean, Deceased. 

